New weekly chemo started
WEDNESDAY 25 June HERCEPTIN 1
Last week I started this next stage. Started with a Heart scan (or Gated Blood Spool Scan) to test functioning of heart. This I have every 3 months - already had one. My heart is strong!
They seemed to have more problems finding a vein than my oncologist! He's good! Anyway, time consuming but, other than finding a vein, no issues.
Then straight to oncologist for treatment. Still had canulla in arm from heart scan. Nurse had trouble using this to get blood but we got there! Blood to check levels of immunity, etc not needed for Herceptin but done in preparation for Taxol chemo the next day. Two Panadol tablets given as pre meds.
Herceptin dripped in over 2 hours - next time over 1.5hrs, then 1hr, 1hr, and eventually 0.5hr which is the regular drip time for the rest. Not a chemo drug. Have to have every 3 weeks for next 12 months. No side effects expected.
THURSDAY 26 June TAXOL 1
Back to St Andrews clinic for first Taxol chemo treatment. For this chemo I had to take pre meds at home BEFORE treatment but none after. 5 Dex at midnight and another 5 at 6.30am - 12 hours and 6 hours before my treatment. 2 alarms set - I tend to be awake anyway, on and off, just not necessarily at those times!
More pre chemo drugs at clinic. Little bit of trouble again getting canulla in. Phenergan was fun! Not. Immediate stinging of forearm so they slowed it down and it gradually subsided. Only 10 mins or so - doable. Been lucky so far so figure a little bit of pain was due! Then IV version of Zantac was administered.
These pre chemo drugs are all forms of anti histamines. Taxol is known for causing strong allergic reactions. So my oncologist believes in starting with full doses of this pre chemo drugs for the first round to help ensure minimal or no reactions. Then with each weekly dose these pre chemo drugs are reduced and my reactions monitored.
During IV treatment my temp was up at 38 degrees but apparently that can be normal. I had restless legs, a slight headache and slight fuzziness. AND I had to go to the toot every 10 mins! Awkward getting unplugged each time! None of these reactions lastest once I left the clinic.
I am very pleased to say my side effects have been minimal! Don't feel sick or fuzzy headed! One lot of diarrhoea - did feel a bit like I had curry the night before!! Burnies! Occasional sensation of the taste of metal again - but I wonder if that is psychosomatic!
I DID however have a reaction to the phenergan. 24 hrs after treatment I felt like I suddenly pulled a muscle in my forearm. It felt tight and was swollen. It also looked red on the skin and hurt to touch. I was still able to use my arm for most things but it hurt to bend it up. By the time of my treatment today 5 days later this had virtually gone - a bit tender along the vein down the arm from the IV site on the side of my elbow.
My underarms also felt achy like when you have an infection and my surgery site - left boob that was - also felt achy. These feelings may or may not be related to the chemo... All subsided now.
So... overall. Feeling Ok so far at the start of this 12 weeks of chemo. Can be active during treatments which is good - was concerned about only having 7 days in between to recover! Fingers crossed things don't get too bad as I work my way through these next weeks.